Egypt: Time for Televised Presidential Debates?

As the time approaches for theEgyptian presidential election[2], there have been calls not only in Egypt but also around the Arab world for televised presidential debates. During the 2005 presidential election Mubarakrebuffed calls[3]for such debates, but now with agenuine presidential race[4]for the first time, Egyptian voters are keen to see the kind of debates they have watched taking place in the United States and elsewhere.

On April 22, Twitter users discussed the idea of “Monazarat” (”Debates”), and called for televised presidential debates in Egypt.

@SaraLabib[11]: For the first time we have in front of us more than one real candidate, and we don’t know who will win; let’s strengthen the culture of dialogue, discussion and debate between candidates